title: Targeting minor histocompatibility antigens in graft versus tumor or graft versus leukemia responses.
abstract: Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) represents the only curative therapy for several hematologic malignancies, and shows promise as a nascent treatment modality for select solid tumors. Although the original goal of alloHCT was hematopoietic reconstitution after sub-lethal chemoradiotherapy, recognition of a profound donor lymphocyte-mediated graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) or graft-versus-tumor (GVT) effect has shifted the paradigm from pre-transplant cytoreduction to tumor control via donor lymphocytes. In human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-compatible alloHCT, GVL and GVT reactions are induced primarily by donor T-cell recognition of minor histocompatibility antigens (mHAgs). Here we review the literature regarding mHAg-specific T cells in GVL and GVT reactions, and discuss the prospects of exploiting mHAgs as immunotherapeutic targets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Kwok Min
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: Hashem M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Younes
authors.forename: Anthony G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Brickner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D020544:Graft vs Leukemia Effect / Q000276:immunology*; D020350:Graft vs Tumor Effect / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens